ABOARD XUELONG, Jan. 2 (Xinhua) -- A Chinese helicopter transferred all 52 passengers aboard a stranded Russian vessel to safe ice near an Australian rescue ship on Thursday, 10 days after the MV Akademik Shokalskiy became stuck in sea ice off Antarctica.

The passengers, as well as luggage, scientific instruments and equipment, were flown to safe ice near the Aurora Australis by Xueying 12, a helicopter on board China's icebreaker Xuelong, and are aboard the Australian ship. An earlier flight examined the surrounding area to prepare for landing on ice.Full story

ABOARD XUELONG, Jan. 2 (Xinhua) -- The first group of 12 passengers aboard a Russian vessel stuck in sea ice off Antarctica have been transferred by a Chinese helicopter to ice surface near an Australian rescue ship on Thursday, said a Xinhua reporter.

The passengers were taken to safe ice near Aurora Australis by Xueying 12, a helicopter on board China's icebreaker Xuelong, after an earlier flight examining the conditions around the stranded MV Akademik Shokalskiy to prepare for the landing on ice, said the reporter aboard Xuelong.Full story